Lillian Dudley, 90, Albert Lea

Published 9:23 am Thursday, October 3, 2013

Funeral services for Lillian Dudley, 90, of Albert Lea, will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. John Holt will officiate. Interment will be at Hillcrest Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea and again one hour prior to the service at the church. Bonnerup Funeral Service is assisting the family with arrangements.

Lillian died on Monday, Sept. 30, 2013, at the Cottagewood Senior Communities in Mankato surrounded by her family. She was 90 years old.

Lillian was born on Nov. 22, 1922, to Alexander and Dea Stanzuk, in Albert Lea. She was an Albert Lea native her entire life. On June 30, 1940, Lillian was united in marriage to Donald Dudley. To this union, five children were born. Lillian and her husband owned and worked at Lakeview Grocery. The customers coined her “Lakeview Lilly.”

She was an active member at First Lutheran Church. She was also a member of the Moose Lodge.

Lillian loved to garden, fish and golf. When the store was quiet, she would sneak out the back door and throw a line in the water. The entire neighborhood loved her dearly. She even taught all of the neighborhood children how to fish. She enjoyed taking vacations to Texas every year, as well as to their cabin on Bowstring Lake, in northern Minnesota.

Lillian was a very easy going lady. She was a very patient woman and was very laid back. She was funny, kind and sometimes too gullible. She was the most caring grandma in the world.

Lillian is survived by her children, Donna (Jack) Hoaglun of Balsam, Peggy (Morris) Haskins of Albert Lea, Cindy (Tom) Hamberg of Lake Crystal, David (Michelle) Dudley of Lakeville and Tony (Terry) Dudley of Balsam; 15 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; sister, Dee Emery of Albert Lea; sister in-law, Rose Barrus of Birmingham, Ala.; cousins, Joy White and Don Mathison; as well as many other nieces, nephews and other loving relatives.

Lillian was preceded in death by her husband, Don Dudley; parents, Alex and Dea Stanzuk; and her siblings, Harry Larson, Jenny Ackland and Jeana Fargusson.

The family would like to send a special thank you to the staff at Cottagewood of Mankato for their exceptional care and compassion they showed Lillian.